Lectures for Globally Minded Citizens in Kitakyushu to mark the 50th anniversary of the municipalization of the City of Kitakyushu

On December 23, 2013, in the Galaxy Hall of SPACE WORLD in Kitakyushu City, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Dr. Satoshi Furukawa gave a lecture under the title of “Space is inviting you” for approximately 470 children and their parents. The event was sponsored by JAL Foundation and backed up by Kitakyushu City, the city of Kitakyushu Board of Education, SPACE WORLD, Nishinippon Shimbun, a local newspaper, Kitakyushu Airport Promotion Conference and JAL Express.

○C JAXA/GCTC

This was the 17th session since JAL Foundation started this program in 2003, and we invited as a lecturer Dr. Satoshi Furukawa, a truly globally minded citizen, who worked in the International Space Station for 165 days with people from 15 different countries of the world.

Dr. Furukawa spoke about “Space is inviting you” showing, on Japan’s largest screen at the SPACE WORLD Galaxy Hall, video pictures of his launch to space, his experiments and daily activities in the International Space Station where he stayed for 165 days and his landing on earth. He also spoke on various topics including the work of , the Russian space ship Soyuz, the ISS (International Space Station), Japanese experiment module “Kibo”, H-II Transfer Vehicle “KONOTORI”, JAXA and its astronauts, and future outer space travel.

During the question and answer session toward the end of the event, many children asked various kinds of questions; “What are the differences between the Soyuz and space shuttles?” “Which planet would you want to go most?” “What was the biggest problem in the space?” “What foods have you found less tasty than expected?” “What is the most important thing for an astronaut?” Dr. Furukawa answered each question from a child’s perspective in an easy-to-understand manner, shaking hands with each child who asked questions. His gentle and warm manner made the children feel close to an astronaut who was a remote figure to them, and inspired their imagination for the future.

Dr. Satoshi Furukawa was born in 1964 in Kanagawa Prefecture. From June to November 2011, he stayed on the International Space Station (ISS) for 165 days, the longest period for a Japanese astronaut, as a flight engineer for the extensive Expedition 28th /29th missions. His duty included experiments in “Kibo” and maintenance of the ISS. He also supported STS-135, the 135th and final mission of the American program. (as of December 2013